Littlestickarubarb jumps the last under Ian McCarthy © Photo Healy Racing
Littlestickarubarb won for the second time at Cork on Easter Monday, as she claimed the Hothouse Flowers 14th June Handicap Chase.
Successful over flights at this meeting twelve months ago, the Mick Winters trained seven-year-old since added a win at Clonmel in March.
Second at Tramore on her most recent start, the consistent daughter of Westerner was sent off the 2/1 favourite this afternoon.
Ridden by Ian McCarthy she got to the front at the third last, and was ridden out from the final fence, going on to score comfortably by three lengths.
Liam Gilligan lost his irons aboard Crazyheart (6/1), but still managed to get his mount home in second, while Bee A Beneficiary (7/2 to 9/4) was third.
Winters said afterwards: "She is as tough as nails and racing suits her. We were going leaving her off every day and next thing you'd see a race coming up and she seems to be better running regularly.
"Today was the first day she didn't sweat in the lorry and she thought she was only going galloping. She started sweating here but she is easy to train when she races in her own grade.
"We came here with the full intention of leaving her off after today but we'll play it one day at a time with her now."
STEWARD REPORTS
L.P. Gilligan, rider of Crazyheart trained by Paul Nolan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his stirrup broke at the fourth last fence.
The Stewards interviewed L.P. Gilligan, rider of Crazyheart, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that L.P. Gilligan was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards cautioned L.P. Gilligan.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
